Opinion

OBSERVATIONS

By Mac McKinnon

Did the debate change

or make up your mind?

Did you watch the debate between the Democratic and Republican contenders for the office of President of the United States Sunday night? Do you give a hoot?

I'm not sure at this point how many people watched although you didn't have much choice on the three commercial networks and a number of news networks along with C-Span.

The reason I was so deliberte in the opening sentence and so specific is that I wanted to make it clear those two weren't the only ones who are on the ballot for the office of President.

There are several on the ballot in all 50 states and then there is Ralph Nader who is on the ballot in 21 states and who knows how many states Ross Perot has his name on the ballot.

I'm not really sure it is fair to leave out these other people, especially the ones who qualified to have their name on the ballot in all 50 states. That's not an easy chore. I don't even know exactly who they are but they obviously have some backing somewhere. They just don't get the attention of the national media.

I watched the debate if you could really call it that as the format doesn't really allow for a true debate, only a matter of answering questions and rebuttal, plus opening and closing statements.

It was a good forum for the two what I'll call major candidates to allow themselves to be seen by the nation in a one-on-one situation and to see how they could think on their feet.

Both candidates did really well. It was obvious that Bob Dole, the Republican, had to be the aggressor as he is the challenger. Bill Clinton, Democrat and incumbent, only had to defend his record.

Neither committed any major gaffes as has been done by candidates in previous presidential debates. Both appeared authoritative and in command of what they believe. Both appeared to have more humor than I previously believed they did and while I knew they got along with each other, I didn't realize they have an obvious respect for one another.

A good point about having only two candidates on the debate is that it is less confusing. The more candidates allows for more issues that can get real confusing. One commentator after the debate Sunday brought up the point that the only people who understood some of what was discussed are those who really follow politics closely.

I'm not sure how many people follow politics that closely as it can get real boring. I pay attention because I enjoy all the give and take involved.

Did the debate Sunday change of make up many minds? Only time will reveal that answer but on the surface, it doesn't appear that there was anything conclusive for voters.

Mac McKinnon is editor and publisher of the Pecos Enterprise. His column appears on Wednesday and Friday.

YOUR VIEWS

Drug dealers need more

than just prison & jail

Dear Editor, Peggy - See what happens to drug education programs like D-fy-It and DARE when I quit worrying about them and promoting them. If the ...(certain people) of Pecos were really interested about drugs, these programs would not die out.

It is alot easier to gripe and moan about what someone else is doing rather than doing it yourself. It also is alot easier to just spout the 15 second party line about "we need to be hard on drugs and Stickels is not hard enough," than to rationally discuss the problem. Study after study shows that putting dealers in prison does absolutely no good in fighting the drug problem. The only thing that works is treatment of the people who use drugs.

Instead of concentrating about "prosecutions" and "jail terms" I believe we should spend our resources on treatment. But, it is harder to explain this and easier to just say "we need to be hard.:" The media, YOU INCLUDED, have an obligation to the public to educate them about treatment as opposed to plain incarceration. But, again, if you write like that, the cops say "well, the paper is soft on drugs". My time is about over and I hope someone takes over.

One last thing, the police will never understand the entire drug problem because they think only in terms of arrests, and if you try to explain it to them their attitude is "we are fighting drugs and if you do not agree with us, that means you are for drugs." This I do not agree with. But, like I said, My time is about over and I hope someone else takes up the fight...

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